Open Fire (Ronnie Montrose album)


Open Fire was the first instrumental album from Ronnie Montrose which explored jazz, rock and acoustic concepts in the vein of Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck. Ronnie dropped hints in previous Montrose albums that he was heading in this direction. Songs like "Whaler" and "One And a Half" from Warner Brothers Presents... Montrose! and "Tuft-Sedge" and "Merry-Go-Round" from Jump On It contained various acoustic, synthesizer and string elements that showed Ronnie was looking to branch out from his hard rock persona.
Ronnie reunited with friend Edgar Winter who produced the album and played piano and keyboards as well. Ronnie welcomed Montrose alumni Jim Alcivar on keyboards and Alan Fitzgerald on bass and were joined by drummer Rick Shlosser who appeared with Ronnie on Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey.
The album begins with "Openers," an orchestral piece very similar in style to The Planets by Gustav Holst, which blends into "Open Fire," the closest thing to a straight-ahead rocker on this disc with an unmistakable Ronnie Montrose lead guitar sound. "Mandolinia" begins with a pulsating Moog sequencer bass followed by layers of mandolin sounds and guitars. "Town Without Pity" is a slick cover that replaces Gene Pitney's vocals with a blistering lead guitar by Ronnie and backed by fine piano work by Edgar Winter and more orchestration by Bob Alcivar. "Leo Rising" is an acoustic guitar piece. "Heads Up" and "Rocky Road" are two examples of jazz fusion. "My Little Mystery" features more acoustic guitar with Edgar Winter manning the harpsichord and another excellent use of Bob Alcivar's orchestra resulting in a Baroque ending. The album ends fittingly with a song titled "No Beginning/No End." Starting off with Moogish special effects by Jim Alcivar, Ronnie coasts in with some smooth acoustic guitar work and follows this by incorporating another soaring lead and leading to a rousing finish.
On the strength of this effort, Montrose was invited to perform with accomplished jazz and jazz fusion drummer Tony Williams. On July 27, 1978, Montrose joined Williams, Brian Auger, Mario Cipollina and special guest Billy Cobham also on drums for a show in Tokyo as the "Tony Williams All Stars". The setlist included "Rocky Road", "Heads Up" and "Open Fire" and the "Open Fire" performance appears on The Joy of Flying by Tony Williams.

Track listing

;Side One
  1. "Openers" - - 2:54
  2. "Open Fire" - - 3:53
  3. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar, theremin
  4. * Alan Fitzgerald - bass
  5. * Rick Schlosser - drums
  6. "Mandolinia" - - 3:14
  7. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar, mandolin, mandocello
  8. * Jim Alcivar - sequencer programming
  9. * Edgar Winter - bass synthesizer
  10. * Rick Schlosser - drums
  11. "Town Without Pity" - - 3:17
  12. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  13. * Edgar Winter - piano
  14. * Alan Fitzgerald - bass
  15. * Rick Schlosser - drums
  16. "Leo Rising" - - 3:49
  17. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  18. * Jim Alcivar - ondes Martenot
;Side Two
  2. "Heads Up" - - 3:39
  3. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  4. * Alan Fitzgerald - bass
  5. * Rick Schlosser - drums
  6. "Rocky Road" - - 4:23
  7. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  8. * Edgar Winter - piano
  9. * Alan Fitzgerald - bass
  10. * Rick Schlosser - drums
  11. "My Little Mystery" - - 4:40
  12. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  13. * Edgar Winter - harpsichord
  14. "No Beginning/No End" - - 5:54
  15. * Ronnie Montrose - guitar
  16. * Jim Alcivar - Moog synthesizer, effects
  17. * Edgar Winter - piano
  18. * Alan Fitzgerald - bass
  19. * Rick Schlosser - drums

    Personnel